“Listen, we all got NBA jerseys on, the other team and us,’’ Wade said. “Whoever Coach [FredHoiberg] decides to put on the floor, we gotta rock with it, all of us. We can’t worry about that. We just have to play harder, want it a little more. It’s going to be tough.’’

After a 115-94 loss Friday to the visiting Houston Rockets, the Bulls are 3-5 since trading Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott.

“Obviously when you make a change like we made, we lost two guys in our rotation,’’ Wade said. “But there’s no excuse. We’re still in the playoff [picture]. We just have to go out there these last [17] games and control our own destiny. And we can do that. We played very well five out of six games and then we’ve had a couple bad ones. But that’s been us all year. So no confidence lost, it’s just the season we’ve been dealing with. Let’s get back on the saddle and get some wins.’’

Coincidentally, Wade was sidelined for the losses against the Pistons and Magic while dealing with a quad injury. He started against the Rockets, and his hope was he would be able to play all the remaining games, including three back-to-backs remaining on the schedule.

Miami vice

The Bulls have very little room for error as they push for a playoff berth and the Miami Heat are one of the reasons why.

After a poor start, coach Erik Spoelstra has shown his coaching prowess by completely turning this year’s team around.

“I think he has been,’’ said Wade, when asked if Spoelstra was underrated. “I think this year probably opened a lot of eyes to his and his staff’s coaching ability. What that team has been able to accomplish is incredible, the way they continue to keep winning. I think he has in the past, and a lot of it is because he had LeBron James and Chris Bosh and the other guy on this roster and Ray Allen. Everybody thought it’s easy to win that way. But it’s actually harder. I think what he’s doing this year is phenomenal.’’

Close call

Hoiberg was asked about the MVP race, and while he gave Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook the slight edge, he deemed it too close to call.

“I mean Westbrook if he averages a triple-double, it’s kind of hard not to give it to him,’’ Hoiberg said.